Washington has long been a hub for entrepreneurs and innovators. Today, the state’s startups and global companies lead important industry hubs in areas such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and space exploration, artificial intelligence (AI) and clean tech innovation, just to name a few. Businesses choose Washington for many reasons, including access to collaborative industry ecosystems, world-class talent and forward-looking infrastructure.
Most entrepreneurs agree that choosing Washington is one of the smartest decisions they’ve made for their company, because it is an ideal home for those building the technologies, products and services that serve people today and well into the future.
You are invited to discover Washington: A creative, collaborative place for building the next big thing across an array of industries.
Building on a Century of Innovation for the Future
What makes Washington unique is that its vision of the future is built on more than a century of know-how. Over the past 110 years, the Boeing Company has pioneered such innovations as assembly line production, advanced automation, AI-driven quality control and much more. These innovations have helped Washington companies adapt, compete and innovate across industries. This culture of innovation also reflects the willingness of partners to work together to solve complex challenges, whether by investing in emerging technologies, strengthening supply chains or ensuring a workforce that is ready for jobs today and well into the future.
A Confluence of Community and Ideas in Snohomish County
From Boeing’s early seaplane production to today’s commercial satellite constellations, Washington has built a $71 billion aerospace industry, reflecting a steady rollout of innovation brought to market over the past century. It’s what brought Portal Space Systems to the state.
Portal Space Systems is redefining what’s possible in space mobility. Headquartered in Bothell, Washington, the company’s flagship spacecraft, Supernova, enables high Delta-v maneuverability, multi-orbit operations and refuelability – unlocking missions previously out of reach.
The Washington State Department of Commerce, through the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, will administer a $350,000 Strategic Reserve Fund Grant to support development of Portal Space Systems’ new manufacturing facility in Bothell. Their new facility will be capable of increasing to a scalable production rate of up to a dozen satellites per year. Over the next five years, the company anticipates adding 700 jobs to support its future needs.
It’s simply a remarkable evolution. Boeing spawned what became an enterprise that now represents the next big thing in Washington’s aviation industry. Innovation is a part of Washington’s DNA and nowhere is that more apparent than in aerospace.
Prashaanth Ravindran, Portal’s vice president of engineering, is unabashedly full of praise for his people and their work and sees this expansion in Washington as an obvious choice.
“Our team at Portal is full of top talent,” he said. “This region offers a beautiful confluence of ideas and location. We are surrounded by both tech and community. It’s what drew us all here.”
Companies like Portal are drawn to the state by the combination of talent, technology and community — a mix of culture that fosters innovation at every level.
Community Collaboration Sparks Economic Growth in Forks
Forks Prairie covers 3,000 acres of the rural, northwest tip of Washington. From the 1950s to the early 1980s, timber was king, and Forks was the logging epicenter. Then, the bottom dropped out of the lumber market. Today, the Clallam County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), the City of Forks and a consortium of partners across industry, education and community are changing that.
Their unique partnership includes business, government, educational organizations, conservation groups and community partners. Together, they raised $12 million in a combined public and private investment, including $400,000 from Commerce, to attract the next big thing. This strategic collaboration resulted in a 2025 announcement by Riverside Forest Products USA to develop its new sawmilling facility in Forks.
“This represents the culmination of our multi-faceted approach to ensuring Forks offers a compelling opportunity,” said Colleen McAleer, executive director of the CCEDC. “Forestry offers the highest wages in the county; it just needed innovation, a technology infusion and a focus on sustainability in order to grow.”
This new facility, which is anticipated to open this year, is expected to create up to 40 new family-wage jobs during phase one of operations — in a rural community of less than 4,000 residents. A second phase will add about 30 more jobs, with an anticipated total of up to 100 new jobs, depending on demand for the products produced at this mill.
Global Connectivity Furthers Industry Innovation
Washington is deeply connected to global markets through exports, imports and international partnerships. This requires the state to maintain a global outlook and bring together aerospace companies, primes, tier suppliers, contract manufacturers and technology firms from around the world to build resilient and connected supply chains.
Whether attending trade shows, organizing trade missions or making phone calls across oceans, Choose Washington’s goal is to help Washington companies compete domestically and abroad. The organization is available to bring the parts of industry together, reinforcing the state’s supply chain and helping companies and economic organizations identify state and federal resources that can help them grow.
visitors as they enter this small community, with roots in logging. Photo: Shutterstock
Supporting Today’s Workforce While Preparing for Tomorrow
Washington's industries are supported by a workforce system that closely links employers with education and training. Apprenticeships, technical programs and university research all help prepare workers for an array of careers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, engineering and aerospace technology. Institutions such as the University of Washington and Washington State University contribute globally recognized research, while industry partnerships help ensure skills development aligns with real production needs.
Washington knows that it’s about more than what employees do at work; it’s where they live that matters. Washington is paying attention to essential community-building infrastructures, like transportation and childcare, that help make the quality of life among the best in the nation.
Leading the Way for Clean and Sustainable Energy
Washington generates more hydroelectric power than any other state, with about 60 percent of its electricity coming from hydroelectric sources and a substantial share from other clean energy generation. Washington’s industrial electricity rates are below the U.S. average, and the state has set a statewide policy for utilities to transition to 100 percent clean and non-emitting electricity by 2045 under the Clean Energy Transformation Act.
The state has also invested $10 million to establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Research Center at Paine Field and active investments in hydrogen, electric vehicles and clean fuels underscore Washington’s commitment to combining economic growth with sustainability.
This reflects the state’s philosophy that its people don’t need to choose between good jobs and a healthy climate. Through the Climate Commitment Act, Commerce is investing in advancing clean energy and attracting innovative companies to the state.
The Next Big Thing
From commercial space systems to industrial symbiosis, Washington is home to the companies and ideas shaping the future. Its unique blend of collaboration, talent and innovation creates opportunities for entrepreneurs and global companies alike. Some of the most iconic industry advancements have emerged from the state’s convergence zone of ideas, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. As industries experience historical changes, Washington continues to deliver on the promise of what’s to come. The state invites businesses to join its dedication to continuous improvement and innovation … and help discover the next big thing.
Whether it’s building the next generation of spacecraft, creating new forest products or developing sustainable aviation fuel, Washington continues to deliver on its promise as a hub for the next big thing across an array of industries.
For more information, visit ChooseWashingtonState.com. T&ID
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